Angels wear out Eovaldi, even series with Marlins

Stephen Dunn / Getty Images

Starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi #24 (R) of the Miami Marlins walks off the mound after being relieved by manager Mike Redmond #11 in the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 26, 2014 in Anaheim, California.

Starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi #24 (R) of the Miami Marlins walks off the mound after being relieved by manager Mike Redmond #11 in the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on August 26, 2014 in Anaheim, California. (Stephen Dunn / Getty Images)

ANAHEIM, Calif. – Since the beginning of last season a Marlins' starter has allowed 10 or more hits while completing four innings or fewer on three occasions. Including Tuesday's late game against the Angels, the same pitcher has authored each of those outings.

Nathan Eovaldi.

Looking to pitch his team to a series-clinching win, Eovaldi instead made sure Wednesday's series finale would be a rubber game. The Angels scored a first-inning run and hung five more in the fourth off the hard-throwing on their way to an 8-2 win at Angel Stadium.

Back to a game under .500 (65-66), the Marlins at 13-6 can still boast the National League's best interleague record. A win Wednesday would put them at 163-147 all-time against AL opponents.

Out-hit 16-4, the Marlins had logged double-digit hit games in four straight and six of seven. Thanks to back-to-back two-out doubles from Garrett Jones and Jarrod Saltalamacchia, the Marlins extended their streak of games without being shut out to 57. That's the longest active run in the majors.

Angels' right-hander Matt Shoemaker handcuffed the Marlins through seven. The lone hits Shoemaker allowed: a pair of two-out singles, to Donovan Solano in the third and Marcell Ozuna in the fourth.

Shoemaker (13-4) on his way to his fourth win in as many starts retired the first eight batters he faced and 13 of 15. Jarrod Saltalamacchia drew both walks Shoemaker issued.

Until Garrett Jones' two-out, ninth-inning double, the lone Marlin to see second was Christian Yelich. He reached on an eighth-inning walk off ex-Marlin Jason Grilli and advanced on defensive indifference.

Like the Marlins did for Jarred Cosart Monday, the Angels gave Shoemaker a nice cushion. Mike Trout and Albert Pujols, both 3-for-4, accounted for four hits off Eovaldi. He exited after walking Erick Aybar to start the fourth and giving up hits to the next five Angels' hitters in a row. Pujols smacked Sam Dyson's first pitch up the middle past a drawn-in infield, bringing home the two runners Eovaldi left on.

"I feel behind trying to get ahead with some good off-speed pitches," Eovaldi said. "Just feel behind 2-0, 2-1. Those are the counts you don't want to get it, especially with runners in scoring position. I feel like that was one of the key factors."

Eovaldi has allowed a season-high 10 hits three times this season. The first two – May 21 against the Phillies and June 13 against the Pirates – he completed six and 4 2/3 innings, respectively. Monday also marked the third time he's allowed six earned runs, two shy of the season-high eight he gave up to the Giants on July 18.

"He's leaving too many pitches up in the zone," manager Mike Redmond said. "That's been going on for a few starts now. He's going to need to make an adjustment...It's definitely concerning going three innings. Every start is big and every one of these games is big. It's a missed opportunity for us. We've got to have guys step up and log those innings."

Eight of the 10 hits Eovaldi allowed came on fastballs ranging from 95-99 miles per hour. Pujols' first-inning single and Trout's third-inning singles came on 99-mph heaters.

"There were a few pitches that were located pretty well and just fell in for hits," Eovaldi said. "Then again there were some that were up in the zone and just down the middle that they got hits on. They were swinging early on the fastballs. It's just being able to locate the off-speed pitches."

Eovaldi (6-9) now has lost each of his last three starts. The Cardinals, Rangers and Angels totaled 15 runs on 27 hits in 14 1/3 innings during those outings. His ERA has spiked from 3.99 to 4.30.

The Marlins are just 9-18 in Eovaldi's starts, including a 4-12 record since June 1.